Mar del Fondo Produces Three Meter Waves, Floods Road

by Maureen Dietrich

4 May 15 

mazmessenger.com

Despite the red flags, dozens of beachgoers entered the treacherous water.

The annual mar del fondo oceanic phenomenon is causing havoc along Pacific coastal areas prompting the Federal government to post alerts in Sinaloa, Baja California Sur, Nayarit, Jalisco, Colima, Guerrero, Oaxaca and Chiapas.

Its affects have been felt in Mazatlán since Saturday when lifeguards closed all beaches. Despite the red flags, dozens of beachgoers entered the treacherous water where three meter waves with strong undercurrents pounded the normally tranquil beaches.

Waves flooded access walkways in the Zona Dorada beside the Inn at Mazatlán and south of the El Cid hotel towers.

Waves have been pounding up against and breaching retaining walls of hotels and private residences flooding access walkways in the Zona Dorada beside the Inn at Mazatlán and south of the El Cid hotel towers. Flood waters reached Av. Camarón Sábalo where traffic was forced to slow down to wade through the overflow.

Mazatlán’s Port Captain closed navigation for small boats including sports fishing and recreational boating. Juan Romero of the Office of the Port Captain said the closure could be in effect until tomorrow (Tuesday) when they would re-evaluate the situation.

The Secretary of National Defence stated Acapulco and Coyuca de Benítz in Guerrero have suffered the most damage from the mar del fondo. There a total of 218 homes were damaged, one person died and another disappeared.

The National Meteorological Service advised the oceanic phenomenon would continue for another 48 hours.

(from Noroeste)

Lifeguards Issue Jelly Fish, Stingray Warnings

by Maureen Dietrich
27 Apr 15
mazmessenger.com

Mazatlán lifeguard squad commander, Sergio Cervantes Rodríguez, said that during this past weekend at least 16 people were affected by jelly fish burns, stingray jabs or were caught in riptides along popular beaches.

Four suffered jelly fish burns, three on beaches in front of the Las Flores hotel in the Golden Zone and one in Playa Brujas, and two tourists were stung by stingrays in front of the Costa de Oro hotel.

Ten swimmers were rescued by lifeguards after being caught in underwater currents, four of which were women swimming at the beach in front of the El Cid Hotel. None of those rescued required medical assistance or hospitalization.

Cervantes Rodríguez called on bathers to respect the flags posted along beaches to avoid any problems.

(from Noroeste)

13 Seek Cruz Roja Assistance for Manta Ray Stings

by Maureen Dietrich
23 Feb 15
mazmessenger.com

For the first time in 2015, Mazatlán lifeguards are warning beach goers of manta rays in the shallow waters of beaches of Stone Island, the Zona Dorada, Playa Bruja and along the Malecón.

Cruz Roja reported attending to around 13 people stung by manta rays during the days of Carnaval and last weekend, all of whom were visiting from Durango and Chihuahua.

Lifeguard squad commander, Sergio Cervantes Rodríguez, recommended swimmers watch for the yellow flags indicating the presence of manta rays and when entering the water splash noisily to force the manta rays from their nests into deeper water.

(from Noroeste)

All Calm on the Beaches, say Lifeguards

by Maureen Dietrich
19 Jan 15
mazmessenger.com

After several weeks of unusual sightings of large jelly fish, the cold weather has driven them away said commander of the Mazatlán lifeguards, Sergio Cervantes Rodríguez.

Today, swimmers can enjoy very quiet seas with low waves, almost like a swimming pool, the commander commented, adding there are many Canadians and Americans enjoying the calm water at the moment.

However, the waters off the beach from the Los Lobos statue to Valentino´s on the Malecón are still subject to dangerous currents and lifeguards have had problems with tourists not recognizing the danger.

(from Noroeste)

Unusual Sightings of Jelly Fish on Beaches

by Maureen Dietrich

12 Jan 15 

mazmessenger.com

 

Although the beaches of Mazatlán are now calm and tranquil, lifeguards have noticed the unusual presence of jelly fish very early in the season.

Sergio Cervantes Rodróguez, commander of the lifeguard squad, said jelly fish are appearing in just a few areas and those they do see are larger than normal. Most of the sightings were in the Zona Dorada around the Valentino Fiesta Land complex.

They are also constantly on the lookout for manta rays which have recently occasionally stung swimmers.

And compared to Mazatlán beaches with constant activity, those on Stone Island are very quiet, the commander said, adding there are almost no waves, no currents and it should stay that way until March.

(from Noroeste)

Lifeguards Rescue Over 55 from Drowning

by Maureen Dietrich

31 Jul 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

As the temperature in Mazatlán hovers around 36ºC with a heat index of over 50ºC, tourists have been flocking to beaches to escape the heat and humidity.

Commander of the municipal lifeguard squad, Sergio Cervantes Rodríguez, said daily visitors to the beaches range from 14,000 to 28,000 people and his squad has rescued 55 people from drowning so far during the summer vacation.

His main advice to beachgoers was to not enter the water when inebriated, making rescue attempts more complicated. Ten inebriated beachgoers who ignored lifeguards´ instructions were detained this month and, said the commander, held in cells until they were sober.

 (from Noroeste)

10 Vacationers Rescued from Rip Currents

by Murry Page

 23 Jul 14  

mazmessenger.com

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The large ocean swells Mazatlán has been experiencing recently has resulted in an uneven distribution of water onshore and the creation of rip currents, the relatively small scale current of water flowing away from the beach. These rip currents can pull inattentive vacationers out to sea.

Yesterday the city lifeguards were busy as they saved the lives of ten visitors to the city from possible drowning.

At about 1:15 pm four people staying at the Rui Hotel were rescued at playa del Yugo.

Thirty-five minutes later a man from Durango, who had not even checked into his hotel, was saved from drowning by the city’s lifeguards.

At 2:00 pm two guests at the hotel Pueblo Bonito got caught in a rip current, but were saved by nearby lifeguards. They were on vacation from Torreon.

At 3:00 pm the lifeguards stationed near the Rui Hotel again saved three people who were pulled out to sea by a rip current. These vacationers were from Chihuahua.

When not saving people from drowning the lifeguards were admonishing people on the beaches of Mazatlán to be careful.

(from El Debate)

Five Family members Saved from Drowning

by Murry Page

22 Jul 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

As well, Mazatlán’s Civil Protection Agency has been inspecting local hotels with pools to ensure that life guards are on duty.

Five family members vacationing in Mazatlán from Guadalajara got caught in a rip tide off the beach in Fraccionamiento Quintas del Mar. The family members were one adult and four children between the ages of 9 and 17.

Life guards on jet-skis and a speed boat came to their rescue, as they were being washed out to sea. One by one the visitors were brought on board the speed boat and returned to the beach where first aid was administered by the Red Cross and members of the Civil Protection Agency.

Sergio Rodríguez Cervantes, Commander of Aquatic Rescue Squadron, urged swimmers to be cautious when entering the ocean, noting that if life guards were not around, the results could be fatal.

Mazatlán’s Civil Protection Agency has been inspecting local hotels with pools to ensure that life guards are on duty. The swimming pools at two of the city’s hotels, El Quito Inn and Islas del Sol, were closed because of the lack of life guards.

(from El Debate)

Surfers to Assist Lifeguard Squad during the Holidays

by Maureen Dietrich

16 Apr 14  

mazmessenger.com

 

Eight of Mazatlán’s young surfers belonging to Grupo Pirri have volunteered to monitor the city’s beaches over the Semana Santa holidays in coordination with the municipal lifeguard squad.

From 9am to 8pm, the surfers will walk the beaches and ride the waves advising swimmers and beachgoers who do not know the safe areas where the best swimming locations are.

Raquel Hernández León, leader of Grupo Pirri, said her group will talk with people who know nothing about the ocean and during the holidays there are many who have never been in the ocean and don´t know that the ocean is to be respected. (from Noroeste)

34 Lifeguards to Safeguard 500,000 Beachgoers

by Maureen Dietrich

15 Apr 14 

mazmessenger.com

 

Lifeguards admitted the reality of the situation is stressful for them.

Ready to handle any emergency that is bound to come their way this week, Mazatlán’s 34 member lifeguard squad has stationed salvavidas from Stone Island to Punta Cerritos. Given the municipality’s prediction that Mazatlán will be host to 500,000 tourists and most will at sometime find their way to the beaches, each lifeguard on an average will be responsible for 14,700 beachgoers.

Speaking to reporters, lifeguards admitted the reality of the situation is stressful for them, not only for the numbers but also because tourists do not always cooperate with lifeguards´ directions.

Lifeguards work constantly in the sun, without even a bottle of water in their hands, much less a portable bathroom nearby, they said. Often they have to ask to use bathrooms belonging to palapa restaurants on the beach or make a quick dash across the road to an hotel.

With luck, they told media, someone will offer them water, no ice, just water because being all day in the sun they become dehydrated.

Commander of the lifeguard squad, Sergio Cervantes, said that following a meeting yesterday with the municipal secretary of public security, lifeguards who usually work 7am to 7pm will now be on duty 8am to 8pm until April 27.

The Commander also warned that drunk beachgoers who do not obey lifeguards´ directions or who assault lifeguards will be handed over to municipal police to be dealt with according to the law. 

(from Noroeste)